Now that’s a care package

By Don Kramer, Northwest Guardian

For one Soldier, the return to Fort Lewis meant more than a reunion with family and the chance for well-earned time off.

Tuesday’s redeployment ceremony also brought Corporal Michael Gallagher a new Jeep Liberty sport utility vehicle.

Representatives of Operation Gratitude, a volunteer organization that has sent thousands of care packages overseas to deployed U.S. service men and women joined with Chrysler Limited Liability Corporation prior to the 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division redeployment ceremony on Watkins Field to present the car to Gallagher. He had been the recipient of the 300,000th care package assembled by Operation Gratitude, which thanks to Chrysler, included the keys to a Liberty vehicle.

Chrysler went a step further by surprising Gallagher with a bittersweet gesture of arranging with a local company to paint on the hood the names of five fellow A Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment Soldiers who lost their lives in Iraq.

“Corporal Gallagher told us he wanted to honor his fellow Soldiers who gave their lives in defense of our great nation by permanently displaying their names on his Jeep,” said Frank Fountain of Chrysler LLC. “We’re deeply grateful for the sacrifice of those Soldiers and that Corporal Gallagher has chosen to remember them each day.”

Gallagher had expected to receive the vehicle Tuesday, but was visibly moved that it came with the names of his friends on the hood.

“I did not expect it to be done,” Gallagher said. “I had plans to get it done myself. They chose to do it themselves. For everything that you do for everybody out here, I’m very grateful.”